School the first No Place for Hate school in Coral Springs

Forest Glen Middle School was recently designated the first No Place for Hate school in Coral Springs.

No Place for Hate was developed by the Anti-Defamation League to organize schools and communities to work together and develop activities that enhance appreciation of diversity and foster harmony among diverse groups, said Claudia Rodriguez, the ADL's assistant project director for the Florida region.

"The designation is a way to recognize and honor the work schools and students are doing in promoting a safe and an inclusive environment," Rodriguez said. "By becoming a NPFH school, the institution sends a positive message to the student body that reflects the fact that the school wants to create a safe zone."

To receive the designation, schools must complete ADL's CyberAlly training, which teaches middle school students about cyberbullying, in addition to conducting activities that promote respect and an inclusive environment, Rodriguez said.

"We really thought we'd be one of the few schools in the area to have it and be a beacon and shining star for other schools," said Forest Glen Principal James McDermott.

Rodriguez said it's "extremely important" to provide this type of training to students.

"Our trainings focus on providing the skills and tools to prevent cyberbullying and aim to stop the spreading of such bigotry," she said. "ADL tries to incorporate real-life scenarios, as well as actual cases of students who have been prosecuted with crimes involving cyberbullying."

For the three activities needed for the designation, Forest Glen Middle had a motivational assembly featuring several Miami Dolphins players, cyberbullying training with students, and showed a video to staff on anti-bullying, said Assistant Principal Beth Osborne.

McDermott and Osborne said they'd like to renew the school's designation after the year is complete.

"We certainly would like to continue the tradition now that we have the designation," Osborne said. "It's something we're very proud of."